Smartphone case having reconfigurable input control features for controlling smartphone apps

ABSTRACT

A smartphone case for holding and protecting a smartphone, while also having various features for controlling an app, such as a video game running on the smartphone. The smartphone case includes a case body having a case back, and a case side wall that extends circumferentially around the case back, including four corners. The case side wall also extends above and below a smartphone held by the case, thereby forming a front rim and a back rim. The case side wall also includes corner connectors configured to connect with a swappable input control module. The case back also includes dedicated controls, and at least one recess for storing a swappable control module while not in use. A long side of the case side wall includes a left bumper and a right bumper. An app provides a GUI for assigning the dedicated and swappable controls for an app to be controlled.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/237,675, filed on Dec. 31, 2018 and currently pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to smartphone cases, and moreparticularly to smartphone cases having multiple app control functionsin addition to protecting a smartphone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A game controller is a device typically used with game systems toprovide input control signals to a video game running as software on thegame system. The input control signals are typically used to control anobject, a character, or cursor in the video game. A game controller isusually connected to a game system or computer via a wire or cord. Sincethe mid-2000s, wireless controllers have become common. Controllers havesince evolved to include directional pads, multiple buttons, analogsticks, joysticks, motion detection, touch screens and many otherfeatures. These control functions can also be used to control thefunctions of programs other than games, such as musicrecording/processing programs and word processing programs.

With the advent of smartphones and the program apps (i.e. applicationprograms) that were written to run on those smartphones, manufacturershave created game controller input functions that are adapted for usewith a smartphone. One such controller interface is the BluetoothWireless Gaming Controller Gamepad for Android Smartphone, manufacturedand sold by MYGT™. This game controller has a built-in flip-up phoneholder and can pair with a smartphone using Bluetooth. However, thisgame controller is a bulky device that is entirely separate from thesmartphone, rendering it inconvenient, and lacking sufficientportability.

FlipSide™ is a protective smartphone case that doubles as a gamingcontroller for controlling apps running on the smartphone. This dualpurpose smartphone case comes with AB buttons just like those used forarcade games and video game consoles. The FlipSide™ case has sides thatswing out and move downwardly away from the smartphone to provide twoupper corners in the case when the smartphone is in landscape mode. Thetwo upper corners can accept removable corner input control modules.Each removable corner control module has a large button, and threesmaller buttons. When the removable corner modules are inserted, they donot block the screen as they would before the sides of the case havebeen moved out and downward. It is not clear where to store theremovable corner control modules, so it is possible that they can belost. The back of the case is not used for any purpose other than toprotect the back surface of the phone. Further, the input controlfunctions provided by the modules appear to be fixed, and thus are notreconfigurable to suit the input requirements of different apps.

FLITCHIO™ is another protective smartphone case that doubles as a gamingcontroller for the smartphone. FLITCHIO™ includes two joysticks on theback of the case, as well as two buttons on the top back edge of thecase. All of these controls are user-programmable, in that the user candetermine their functions. The controls are pressure sensitive so thatthe harder one presses, the more rapid the response of the initiatedcontrol function (e.g. the faster one will punch, fire, or run). Thecontrols also provide tactile feedback. The case communicates with thephone using Near-field Communication (NFC) technology. However, thereare no controls provided on the front of the case, which could beconsidered undesirable for some gamers who are accustomed to controlsthat are located on the front of a typical game controller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A smartphone case is provided for holding and protecting a smartphone,while also having various features for controlling input controlfunctions of an app (application program) such as a video game, a musicrecording/processing program, or a word processing program, running onthe smartphone. The smartphone case provides an extremely compact andportable app controller built into the case.

The smartphone case has two swappable control modules that attach to thetop left and right corners over the front of the phone, and can be moresecurely stored on the back of the phone when not in use. The swappablecontrol modules can be, for example, two joysticks, or can be replacedby other types of controller to suit the app and/or the user. The backof the phone also has an A-button, a B-button, and a D-Pad, as arecommonly found on game controllers. The smartphone case also includes aleft bumper and a right bumper along the top long side of the case sidewall. Thus, the smartphone case can be configured with all of thecontrol interface functions found on a typical game controller. Becausethey are built into, or are swappably interfaced with, the case itself,they are always available for use as control interfaces by which tointeract with and to control apps such as games running on thesmartphone. In addition, they reproduce a more preferable controllerexperience than do touchscreen game controls, an interface many users(such as gamers) find inadequate. Further, the configuration of inputcontrollers on the front of the case is customizable through theswappable control modules. Alternate controllers for the front of thecase can be stored in two recesses in the back of the case so that theyare quickly available for convenient reconfiguration of the front sidecontrols.

A general aspect of the invention is a smartphone case for holding andprotecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also having features forcontrolling a video game. The smartphone case includes: a case body, thecase body having a case back; a case side wall that extendscircumferentially around the case back so as to form two long sides, twoshort sides, and four corners, the case side wall also configured toextend above and below a smartphone when the smartphone is held by thecase, thereby forming a front rim that extends above the smartphone andcircumferentially around the case, and forming a back rim that extendsbelow the case back and circumferentially around the case back. Thesmartphone case also includes a pair of corner connectors, a firstcorner connector included at a first corner at a first end of a longside of the front rim, and a second corner connector included at asecond corner at a second end of the long side of the front rim, eachcorner connector configured to connect with a swappable control module.And, the smartphone case includes a pair of swappable control modules,each swappable control module configured to connect with a cornerconnector of the pair of corner connectors, the swappable controlmodules configured to provide input control information to one or moreapplications running on the smartphone when the smartphone is held bythe case.

In some embodiments, each corner connector includes: at least onesnap-in receptacle, a plurality of corner conductors, and at least onemagnetic surface.

In some embodiments, at least one of the swappable control modules isassigned to control one or more inputs of an app by an applicationprogram running on the smartphone when held by the case, the applicationprogram configured to: scan the app to identify inputs of the app forassignment and display them using a GUI, and receive information from auser through the GUI for assigning the one or more of the identifiedinputs of the app to at least one of the swappable control modules.

In some embodiments, the smartphone case further includes: one or morededicated input control devices each configured to be assigned by a userthrough the GUI of the application program, wherein the application isfurther configured to receive information from a user through the GUIfor assigning one or more of the identified inputs of the app to atleast one of the dedicated input control devices.

In some embodiments, a magnetic surface is located between each pair ofcorner conductors.

In some embodiments, a magnetic surface is located on an inner surfaceof the at least one snap-in receptacle.

In some embodiments, at least one long side of the case side wall isconfigured to be flexed so as to allow insertion of a smartphone intothe case.

In some embodiments, the case back includes at least one recess forstoring a swappable control module while not in use.

In some embodiments, the dedicated input control devices are accessibleto a user at an outward facing surface of the case.

In some embodiments, the application program is configured to receiveinput control information from the at least one of the swappable inputcontrol modules and pass it to the one or more assigned inputs of theapp.

In some embodiments, the application program is configured to receiveinput control information from the at least one of the dedicated inputcontrol devices and pass it to the one or more assigned inputs of theapp.

In some embodiments, the case back includes a wireless transceiver fortransmitting the input control information generated by the at least oneswappable control module and the at least one dedicated input controldevice to the application program.

In some embodiments, the smartphone case further includes: a CPU forreceiving the control information from the at least one swappable inputcontrol module and the at least one dedicated control device andpreparing the received control information for transmission by theBluetooth transceiver.

In some embodiments, a short side of the case sidewall includes an audiojack.

In some embodiments, the pair of swappable control modules is selectedfrom: a Joystick; a D-Pad; a 2-Button; and a Single Button.

In some embodiments, each swappable control module includes: a pluralityof snap-in tabs, each snap-in tap being configured to engage with asnap-in receptacle; a plurality of module conductors, each moduleconductor being configured to engage with a corner conductor; and aplurality of magnetic surfaces, each magnetic surface being configuredto engage with a corresponding magnetic surface of a corner connector.

Another general aspect of the invention is a smartphone case for holdingand protecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also having featuresfor controlling a video game. This smartphone case includes: a casebody, the case body having: a case back; and a case side wall thatextends circumferentially around the case back so as to form two longsides, two short sides, and four corners, the case side wall alsoconfigured to extend above and below a smartphone when the smartphone isheld by the case, thereby forming a front rim that extends above thesmartphone and circumferentially around the case, and forming a back rimthat extends below the smartphone and circumferentially around the caseback, and a pair of corner connectors, a first corner connector includedat a first corner at a first end of a long side of the front rim, and asecond corner connector included at a second corner at a second end ofthe long side of the front rim, each corner connector configured toconnect with a swappable control module, each corner connector includingat least one snap-in receptacle, a plurality of corner conductors, andat least one magnetic surface.

In some embodiments, the smartphone case further includes a plurality ofswappable control modules, each swappable control module including: aplurality of snap-in tabs, each snap-in tap being configured to engagewith a snap-in receptacle; a plurality of module conductors, each moduleconductor being configured to engage with a corner conductor; and aplurality of magnetic surfaces, each magnetic surface being configuredto engage with a corresponding magnetic surface of a corner connector.

In some embodiments, the case back includes at least one recess forstoring a swappable control module while not in use.

In some embodiments, the case back includes: a D-Pad, an A-button, and aB-button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many additional features and advantages will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon reading the following description, whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric front view of an embodiment of the smartphonecase having features for controlling a video game or other app, showingthe case with a smartphone inserted therein, also showing two swappablecontrol modules.

FIG. 2 is an isometric rear view of the smartphone case of FIG. 1,showing an A-button, a B-button, a D-Pad, a recess storing a swappablecontrol module while not in use, and a recess with one swappable controlmodule about to be inserted.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the smartphone case of FIG. 1, showingtwo openings for two speakers of the smartphone, a charging port, anaudio jack, and a right bumper.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a printed circuit board for electricallyinterconnecting a battery connector; two corner connectors; an A-button;a B-button; a D-Pad; Right and Left bumpers, a Bluetoothtransmitter/receiver; a Bluetooth antenna; a Bluetooth sync button; acharging port; an on/off switch; a CPU; and a battery.

FIG. 5 is a right side cross-section view of the smartphone case of FIG.1, showing how a smartphone is inserted into the smartphone case.

FIG. 6A is an isometric top rear view of a swappable control module,showing four snap-in tabs, a plurality of module conductors, and atleast one magnetic surface.

FIG. 6B is a closeup view of the left corner connector of the smartphonecase of FIG. 1, also showing a further closeup view of some of theconductors, magnetic surfaces, and snap-in receptacles of the leftcorner connector.

FIG. 7A is an isometric top front view of a Joystick swappable controlmodule.

FIG. 7B is an isometric top front view of a D-Pad swappable controlmodule.

FIG. 7C is an isometric top front view of a 2-Button swappable controlmodule.

FIG. 7D is an isometric top front view of a Single Button swappablecontrol module.

FIGS. 8A-8D are software schematics that describe an embodiment of thefunctional flow of an application program of the invention forconfiguring the smartphone case to provide gaming interface controls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, an isometric front view of an embodiment ofthe smartphone case 100 is shown. The smartphone case 100 has asmartphone 102 inserted therein. A first swappable control module 104 (afirst joystick) is shown above the left corner connector 106, alsoshowing the corner conductors 108 of the corner connector 106. A secondswappable control module 110 (a second joystick) is shown inserted inthe right corner. When a swappable control module, such as the swappablecontrol module 104, is inserted into a corner connector, such as thecorner connector 106, the corner conductors 108 become electricallyconnected to the module conductors (see FIG. 6A) of the swappablecontrol module 104.

The case 100 has a case side wall 112 that extends circumferentiallyaround the case back 200 (see FIG. 2) so as to form two long sides 114,116, two short sides 118, 120, and four corners 122, 124, 126, 128.

The case side wall 112 also extends above and below the smartphone 102when the smartphone 102 is held by the case 100, thereby forming a frontrim 130 that extends above the smartphone and circumferentially aroundthe case 100, and which further forms a back rim 214 that extends belowthe case back 200 and circumferentially around the case back 200. Thefront rim 130 ensures that when the case 100 with a phone 102 insertedtherein rests on a surface on the front rim 130 of the case 100, thescreen of the smartphone 102 is supportably elevated from the surfaceand is thereby protected. Also, the back rim 214 ensures that when thecase 100 rests on a surface on the back rim 214 of the case 100, thebuttons 202, 204, and the D-Pad 205 (see FIG. 2) are elevated away fromcontact with the surface, and thereby protected.

With reference to FIG. 2, an isometric rear view is shown of thesmartphone case 100, having a case back 200 with an A-button 202, aB-button 204, and a D-Pad 205 (directional pad). The A-button 202,B-button 204, and D-Pad 205 are fixed on the back of the case 100 toallow for more input control options in addition to the swappablecontrol modules 104, 110.

Also shown is a first compartment 210 for storing a swappable controlmodule 212 while not in use, and a second compartment 206 with a secondswappable control module 208 about to be inserted. The swappable controlmodules 104, 110 can be stored in the back of the case 100 by placingthem face down into the compartments 206, 210. The backside of each ofthe swappable control modules 208, 212 features a stippled surface thathelps to keep it in place when it is plugged in.

Also shown is a recessed sync button 214 for connecting the case to thesmartphone 102 via Bluetooth, and an on/off button 218. Once thesmartphone 102 and the case 100 have been paired, they will remembereach other even after a disconnection.

Also included are a left bumper/trigger button 220 and a rightbumper/trigger button 222 on the upper left and upper right corners 122,124, respectively. The purpose and function of the bumper/triggerbuttons 220, 222 is the same as traditional left and right triggerbuttons that are found on a standard game controller.

With reference to FIG. 3, a right side view is shown of the smartphonecase 100, having two openings 300, 302 for two speakers of thesmartphone 102, a charging port 304, an audio jack 306, and a rightbumper 308. The audio jack 306 is included only if the smartphone 102doesn't have an audio jack.

With reference to FIG. 4, a rear view is shown of a printed circuitboard 400 located within the back of the smartphone case 100. Theprinted circuit board 400 is for electrically interconnecting a batteryconnector 402; two corner connectors 404, 406; an A-button 408; aB-button 410; a D-Pad 412; right and left bumpers 414, 416; a Bluetoothtransmitter/receiver 418; a Bluetooth antenna 420; a Bluetooth syncbutton 422; a charging port 424; an on/off switch 426; a CPU 428; and abattery 430. The CPU 428 coordinates providing the game control signalsgenerated by operation of the swappable control modules 208, 212 to theCPU of the cell phone (not shown) by way of the Bluetoothtransmitter/receiver 418.

With reference to FIG. 5, a right side cross-section view is shown ofthe smartphone case 100, showing how the smartphone 102 is inserted intothe smartphone case 100. The case 100 has a slightly flexible left side500 that can be pulled outward so as to permit the left side 502 of thesmartphone 102 to snap into place after the right side 504 of the phoneis inserted into the right side 506 of the case 100. The right side 506of the case 100 is more rigid and less flexible than the left side 500of the case 100.

With reference to FIG. 6A, an isometric top rear view is shown of aswappable control module 104, 110, showing four snap-in tabs 600, aplurality of corner conductors 602, and at least one magnetic surface604. Each module conductor 602 is pressed into electrical connectionwith a corresponding corner conductor (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) when one ormore snap-in tabs 600 engage with one or more respective snap-inreceptacles 608 (see FIG. 6B). The snap-in tabs 600 help provide extrasupport so that the swappable control modules 104, 110 do not disconnectduring use.

The at least one magnetic surface 604 helps to hold the swappablecontrol module in place, even when the user applies pressure. In someembodiments, there is more than one magnetic surface 604, such as aroundeach module conductor 602, and on each of the snap-in tabs 600. Themodule conductors 602 are convex, which fit with the corner conductors108, which are concave, so as to enhance connection and therebyfacilitate data transfer.

With reference to FIG. 6B, a closeup view is shown of the left cornerconnector 106 of the front side of the smartphone case 100, also showinga further closeup view of some of the conductors 108, magnetic surfaces606, and snap-in receptacles 608 of the left corner connector 106. Theupper right and upper left corners 122 and 124 are located in thestiffer side 506 (see FIG. 5) of the rim 112. The upper right and upperleft corners 122 and 124 are also made of the stiffer more rigidmaterial. The top surface of the corners 122 and 124 are flat, and theinside surface of the front rim 130 comes down at a 90 degree angleuntil it touches the top surface of the smartphone 102. The front rim130 rises above the top surface of the smartphone 102 enough toaccommodate the thickness of the swappable control module 104 when it isinserted into the corner connector 106.

The magnetic surfaces 606 of the corner connector 106 are located oneach side of each conductor 108, and on the inside of each snap-inreceptacle 608. The magnetic surfaces 606 are magnetically attracted tothe magnetic surfaces 604 of the swappable control module 104 to helphold each swappable control module 104, 110 in place. The snap-inreceptacles 608 of the left corner connector 106 receive the snap-intabs 600 of the swappable control module 104 to help hold the swappablecontrol module 104 in place.

FIGS. 7A-7D show four embodiments of swappable control modules. Otherembodiments of swappable control modules are possible, each differentswappable control module providing a particular type of control to theuser. With reference to FIG. 7A, an isometric top front view is shown ofa Joystick swappable control module 700. With reference to FIG. 7B, anisometric top front view is shown of a D-Pad swappable control module702. With reference to FIG. 7C, an isometric top front view is shown ofa 2-Button swappable control module 704. With reference to FIG. 7D, anisometric top front view is shown of a Single Button swappable controlmodule 706.

Those of skill will appreciate that the smartphone 102 is depicted as anApple iPhone 6/7 plus, but that the smartphone case 100 of the inventionas disclosed herein can be adapted to any smartphone that has therequisite processing capability to run gaming apps and the ability tocommunicate via a wired or non-wired communications interface with theCPU 428 of smartphone case 100. While the dimensions of the screen maychange between different types of phones, those of skill in the art willappreciate that the apps themselves can be written to produce a graphicoutput that is compatible with the screen size of the phone so that theswappables do not overlap the graphics displayed by the smartphone.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that cell phones that areclassified as being smartphones have a processor and non-volatile memorythat can be used to execute apps (application programs) of many kinds.These can include gaming apps, word processing apps, music recordingapps and the like that require interactive control inputs from a user.These apps can be pre-loaded (i.e. stored in the non-volatile memory ofthe smartphone), or they can be downloaded from a website such as theApple App Store (providing apps running on the iOS operating system) orthe Google Play Store (providing apps running on the Android operatingsystem).

To facilitate the reconfigurability of the swappables and theirassignment to input functions required by the apps which they willcontrol, an app 800 of the invention is provided that produces agraphical user interface (GUI) that guides a user through the process ofestablishing functional configurations of the input control functionsthrough assignments of those controls to the inputs of the app. Those ofskill in the art will recognize that app 800 can be written inaccordance with the software schematic of FIGS. 8A-8D for any mobileoperating system (OS) installed on the smartphone 102 (e.g. iOS orAndroid). Those of skill in the art will appreciate that coding the app800 of the invention as described by the software schematic of theinvention (FIGS. 8A-8D) for a given OS is well within the grasp of oneof ordinary skill in the art.

FIGS. 8A-8D together illustrate a software schematic for an app of theinvention 800 that is stored in the non-volatile memory, and executed bythe processor of, the smartphone 102 in conjunction with the smartphonecase 100. The software schematic illustrates the seven views or pages ofa graphical user interface (GUI) that will be displayed on the screen ofthe smartphone 102 as the user navigates through the app of theinvention 800. The logical flow lines between the pages are labeled byletters and arrows to indicate navigational direction to make themeasier to follow as they span the FIGS. 8A-8D. FIG. 8A illustrates pages1 (810) and 2 (820) of the app of the invention 800. FIG. 8B illustratespages 3 (830) and 4 (840) of the app of the invention 800. FIG. 8Cillustrates the pages 5 (850) and 6 (860) of the app of the invention800. FIG. 8D illustrates page 7 (870) of the app of the invention 800.Each page includes a graphical display 811, 819, 829, 839, 849, 859, and869 and a unique array of displayed buttons that can be actuated by auser through the touch sensitive screen of smartphone 102 to navigatethrough the app, and through which to provide configuration informationthat enables the game controller buttons smartphone case 100 to interactwith gaming apps loaded and running on the smartphone 102.

The graphical display for each page shows a battery life monitor 802 forthe smartphone case battery 430, FIG. 2. The monitor constantly displaysthe current battery life expectancy in the form of a percentage. It willalso display whether or not the case is plugged in by way of thelightning bolt icon that tells the user that the charger is plugged in.

The graphical display for each page further includes a home button 804at the top left corner of the page currently displayed. No matter whichpage is currently displayed, touching the home key will always send theapp of the invention 800 back to page 1 (810). As an example of how toread the logical flow lines, note that for FIG. 8D, the HOME button forpage 7 (870) is coupled to flow line m. The flow line flows from FIG. 8Dto FIG. 8C as indicated by the arrow of the flow line and the bracketlabeled 8C. If one then proceeds to FIG. 8C, it can be seen that logicalflow line m flows into FIG. 8D as indicated by the arrow and the bracketlabeled 8D on FIG. 8C. Flow line m is then coupled to the HOME buttonsof both Pages 5 (850) and 6 (860) respectively. Flow line m then flowsfrom FIG. 8C to FIG. 8A as indicated by the bracket labeled 8A and thearrow. The flow line flows in from 8C and is coupled to the HOME buttonfor page 2 (820). Flow line m then ends at page 1 (810). It should alsobe noted that logical flow line m also flows in from FIG. 8B because theHome buttons for pages 3 (830) and 4 (840) are coupled together and flowinto FIG. 8A and flow back into page 1 (810) from there as well. Thus,depressing the Home button for any of pages 2-7 sends processing of theapp program of the invention back to page 1. Those of skill in the artwill appreciate that the HOME button on page 1 (810) is not coupled tologic flow line m because the app is already at page 1.

Page 1 (810), which is also the home page as discussed above, is shownin FIG. 8A. The current control layout is displayed in for example, theupper half of the app display 811 for Page 1. This displayedconfiguration includes the dedicated control buttons in the back surfaceof the smartphone case 102 (i.e. A and B buttons 202, 204, right 220 andleft 222 bumper buttons, and the D-Pad 205 of FIG. 2) as well as theswappable modules 104, 110 currently installed and coupled to the right107 and left 106 corner connectors. The display also shows the title ofthe current layout, e.g. “Example Layout,” as shown in FIG. 8A.

Four touch sensitive buttons are also displayed for Page 1. Load Layoutbutton 806 of Page 1, when tapped by a user, causes processing toadvance to display Page 2 (as indicated by logical flow line t), fromwhich the user can select a saved layout to load. The Create New Layoutbutton 808 of Page 1, when tapped by a user, advances the app to displayPage 7 (as indicated by following logical flow line c), from which tochoose which app/apps stored on the smartphone 102 will be associatedwith the newly created layout. The Edit Current Layout button 810 ofPage 1 (when actuated by the user), takes the user to Page 5 (asindicated by following logical flow line s), from which to edit theconfiguration of the current layout. The Add Installed App button whentapped takes the user to Page 4, from which the user can choose whichadditional app/apps stored on the smartphone 102 the user would like toadd to (i.e. associate with) the current layout.

Page 2 (820) of the app of the invention 800 is also shown in FIG. 8A.Page 2 displays all of the user's saved layouts. It also lets the userchoose to switch the current layout to a different layout. Page 2presents a display 519 to the user that includes a list of saved layouts(i.e. “Example Layout”). The user can tap on the saved layout labeled“Example Layout” 812 a, which causes the app to advance the user'ssmartphone display to Page 3 (820) of FIG. 8B to view the details of theselected existing layout (as is indicated by following logical flow linek to FIG. 8B). In the diagram of Page 2, the user will see that thereare selectable areas 812 b-812 g, each with an ellipsis “ . . . ” in thecenter. When the user taps on that area of the next empty entry to add aname for a new layout, the app moves to Page 7 of FIG. 8D (as indicatedby following logical flow line d) which is the same logical destinationof the app when actuating the Create New Layout button 808 from Page 1.If a user eventually uses all of the displayed “ . . . ” layout entries812 b-812 g, a new one will appear at the bottom of the layouts list.Actuating the “back arrow” button 815 returns processing back to Page 1as can be seen by following logical flow line u.

Page 3 (830) is illustrated in FIG. 8B. Page 3 allows the user to view aselected layout through graphical display 829, and the user can chooseto operate on the displayed layout through the actuation of fivebuttons. The Load Layout button 816 moves processing to Page 1 (asindicated by following logical flow line i) and renders the layoutcurrently displayed 829 on Page 3 as the new “currently loaded” layout.The View Associated Apps button 818 takes processing to Page 6 (FIG. 8C)(as indicated by flow line p) to display the apps stored on thesmartphone 102 that are currently associated with the selected andcurrently displayed layout. The Add Installed App button 820 causesprocessing to move to Page 4 (840) (as indicated by flow line x) topermit a user to choose which additional app/apps the user would like toadd the list of such apps to be associated with the selected (andthereby currently displayed) layout. The Edit button 822 when tappedcauses processing to move to Page 5 (850, FIG. 8c ) (as indicated byflow line w, to permit the user to edit the configuration parameters ofthe currently selected and displayed layout. The back arrow buttonforces processing back to the previous Page 2, as indicated by flow linej.

Page 4 (840) is also illustrated in FIG. 8B. Page 4 provides a graphicdisplay 839 through which the user can add/remove apps that areassociated with layouts. When Page 4 is loaded, the app of the invention800 (i.e. the KOSA KASE™ app) automatically scans the smartphone 102memory for currently installed apps and displays them as shown in FIG.8B. The user can tap on the apps to choose which apps the user wouldlike to associate with the selected layout. The Add Installed App button824 adds any of the displayed apps to the selected layout that the userpreviously selected by tapping them. The Reset button unselects anyselected apps and re-scans the smartphone 102 for installed apps onceagain. The back arrow button takes the processing back to either Page 3(FIG. 8B) or Page 6 (860) depending on from which of the two pages wasactive before moving to Page 4.

Page 5 (850) is illustrated on FIG. 8C. Page 5 provides a graphicdisplay 849 through which the user can assign the Swappables 104, 110and the dedicated buttons (i.e. A and B buttons 202, 204, the right 220and left 222 bumper buttons, and the D-Pad 205 of FIG. 2) to theselected app's input functions. When Page 5 loads as a result of the apphaving navigated to Page 5, it automatically scans the selected app orinput functions as displayed in the middle portion of the Page 5displayed graphical interface 849. In the upper half of the graphicdisplay 849, the Layout that is selected for editing is displayed. Themiddle portion of the graphic display 849 shows the scanned inputfunctions of the app. In this case, the listed functions suggest thatthe selected app is a type of shooting game.

The app of the invention 800 displays each function (e.g. “move,”“look,” activate, etc. in a separate text box 842. When a user taps in atext box 842 where it says “(Tap here then tap the input),” the user cantap directly onto the text inside of the parenthesis. The user can tapon a desired input such as one of the swappables or a permanent ordedicated button to assign the function identified in the text box tothe selected physical input. A user can repeat the selection process forall of the listed Scanned Input Functions 842. Below the list of“Scanned Input Functions” 842, another text box is provided for enteringa Name for a newly configured layout.

Three buttons are provided at the bottom of the graphical user interfacedisplay 849. The Save button 843 saves any changes made to existinglayouts without creating a completely new layout. The Save As New Layoutbutton 846 saves any edits made to an already existing layout as a newlayout without deleting or changing the original layout. The back arrowbutton returns processing to the take the user back to either Page 1, 3,or 7 depending on which page the user was previously on before the appnavigated to Page 5.

Page 6 (860) is also illustrated on FIG. 8C. Page 6 presents a graphicalrepresentation 859 of the apps that are already associated with aselected layout. One or more of the installed apps associated with theselected layout can be selected by tapping them to select the app (e.g.the “Game” App 841). The selected installed app(s) such as Game app 841can be disassociated from the currently loaded or selected layout bythen actuating the Remove button 854. The Add Installed App button 843will send processing to Page 4 (as indicated by logical flow line a),where all of the app/apps loaded on the smartphone 102 are displayed,thereby permitting a user to select which of app(s) to add to theselected layout as previously discussed with reference to Page 6 above.The back arrow button 852 will take the app of the invention 800 back toPage 3 as indicated by the flow line h.

Page 7 (870) is illustrated by FIG. 8D. When processing of the app ofthe invention 800 moves to Page 7 (870) and it loads, the appautomatically scans for all installed apps and presents them to the uservia the graphical interface 869 as illustrated in FIG. 8D. By tappingthe displayed icons representing the installed apps found by the scan,the user can select which installed apps the user would like toassociate with the new layout. The selected apps are then associatedwith the new layout when the Confirm Selections button 875 of thegraphical interface 869 is actuated. Activating the Continue button willcause the app to move to Page 5 (as indicated by flow line y) toconfigure all of the scanned Input Functions found for the new layout.The return back arrow button 872 causes the KOSA KASE app of theinvention 800 to return to either Page 1 or Page 2 (as indicated bylogical flow line i), depending upon from which page the app enteredPage 7.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the app of the invention800 allows a user to establish virtually any number of layouts by whichto assign the swappable modules 104, 110 and the dedicated controlbuttons 202, 204, 205 controls of the smartphone case 100 to provide therequisite inputs for apps installed on the smartphone such as a gamingapps, and to associate those layouts with any of those loaded apps.

Those of skill in the art will further appreciate that the scanningfunctions performed by the app of the invention 800 are conducted byapplication program interfaces (APIs), the coding for which are wellwithin the ability of those of ordinary skill in the art. Those of skillin the art will further appreciate that the signals generated by theswappable 104, 110 and dedicated control functions 202, 204, 205 of thesmartphone case 100 can be processed and delivered to the app of theinvention 800 by the CPU 428 through the Bluetooth module and antenna418 and 420, and which are then provided through an API in accordancewith the currently loaded layout, to any of the loaded apps currentlyassociated with the currently loaded layout.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that the case 100 of theinvention can be used to control the inputs for more than just gameapps. The app 800 of the invention can scan any app installed on thesmartphone 102 and identify a standard set of input functions 842 withwhich the app 800 is to provide input derived from the buttons andswappables. These functions would be listed in the graphic display ofPage 5 of the app as discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 8C afterselecting the app on Page 7 of FIG. 8D. For example, most apps (e.g.word processing and document apps) have a Delete function, Copyfunction, Paste Function, etc. The app 800 of the invention makes all ofthese functions (which are normally buried in a menu) readily accessibleand instantaneous controlled. As an example, to delete a MIDI note in amusic processing app, a user would have to touch and hold or double tapthe smartphone touch screen to first display a menu that provides achoice of functions that allows one to delete or edit the note.

Using the app of the invention 800, one can just assign the deletefunction to any of the buttons on the phone case 100 of the invention,whether permanent or one of the swappables 104, 110. This provides adelete button by which to delete items such as notes instantly byactuating the assigned button. One could also assign a drag or extendfunction to a button or joystick by which to drag or extend or otherwiseprecisely manipulate selected MIDI notes on the screen without havingone's finger in the way of one's vision.

In another example, using a word processing app on a phone can befrustrating when trying to move a cursor with a finger. A finger cancover the very items displayed on the screen that one wishes tomanipulate. While many phones are able display what is under your fingerwith a magnifying glass style graphic, simply rolling the finger thewrong way when removing it after placement can relocate it from thedesired location. Those frustrations can be alleviated by assigning thecursor movement function to, for example, the D-Pad 205 on the back ofthe case 100 of the invention or to an installed D-Pad swappable 205.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the inventionas claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limitthe invention, except as indicated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A smartphone case for holding and protecting asmartphone, the smartphone case also having features for controlling avideo game, the smartphone case comprising: a case body, the case bodyhaving: a case back: a case side wall that extends circumferentiallyaround the case back so as to form two long sides, two short sides, andfour corners, the case side wall also configured to extend above andbelow smartphone when the smartphone is held by the case, therebyforming a front rim that extends above the smartphone andcircumferentially around the case, and forming a back rim that extendsbelow the case back and circumferentially around the case back; and apair of corner connectors including a first corner connector and asecond corner connector, each of said first and second corner connectorconfigured to connect with a swappable control module; and a pair ofswappable control modules, each swappable control module configured toconnect with a corner connector of the pair of corner connectors, theswappable control modules configured to provide input controlinformation to one or more applications running on the smartphone whenthe smartphone is held by the case; wherein at least one of theswappable control modules is assigned to control one or more inputs ofan app by an application program running on the smartphone when held bythe case, the application program configured to: scan the app toidentify inputs of the app for assignment and display them using agraphical user interface (GUI), and receive information from a userthrough the GUI for assigning the one or more of the identified inputsof the app to at least one of the swappable control modules.
 2. Thesmartphone case of claim 1, further comprising one or more dedicatedinput control devices each configured to be assigned by a user throughthe GUI of the application program, wherein the application is furtherconfigured to receive information from a user through the GUI forassigning one or more of the identified inputs of the app to at leastone of the dedicated input control devices.
 3. The smartphone case ofclaim 1, wherein at least one long side of the case side wall isconfigured to be flexed so as to allow insertion of a smartphone intothe case.
 4. The smartphone case of claim 1, wherein the dedicated inputcontrol devices are accessible to a user at an outward facing surface ofthe case.
 5. The smartphone case of claim 1, wherein the applicationprogram is configured to receive input control information from the atleast one of the swappable input control modules and pass it to the oneor more assigned inputs of the app.
 6. The smartphone case of claim 5,wherein the application program is configured to receive input controlinformation from the at least one of the dedicated input control devicesand pass it to the one or more assigned inputs of the app.
 7. Thesmartphone case of claim 6, wherein the case back includes a wirelesstransceiver for transmitting the input control information generated bythe at least one swappable control module and the at least one dedicatedinput control device to the application program.
 8. The smartphone caseof claim 7, further including a CPU for receiving the controlinformation from the at least one swappable input control module and theat least one dedicated control device and preparing the received controlinformation for transmission by a Bluetooth transceiver.
 9. Thesmartphone case of claim 1, wherein a short side of the case sidewallincludes an audio jack.
 10. The smartphone case of claim 1, wherein thepair of swappable control modules is selected from: a Joystick; a D-Pad;a 2-Button; and a Single Button.
 11. A smartphone case for holding andprotecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also having features forcontrolling a video game, the smartphone case comprising: a case body,the case body having: a case back: a case side wall that extendscircumferentially around the case back so as to form two long sides, twoshort sides, and four corners, the case side wall also configured toextend above and below smartphone when the smartphone is held by thecase, thereby forming a front rim that extends above the smartphone andcircumferentially around the case, and forming a back rim that extendsbelow the case back and circumferentially around the case back; and apair of corner connectors including a first corner connector and asecond corner connector, each of said first and second corner connectorconfigured to connect with a swappable control module; a pair ofswappable control modules, each swappable control module configured toconnect with a corner connector of the pair of corner connectors, theswappable control modules configured to provide input controlinformation to one or more applications running on the smartphone whenthe smartphone is held by the case wherein each corner connectorincludes: at least one snap-in receptacle, a plurality of cornerconductors, and at least one magnetic surface; wherein a magneticsurface is located between each pair of corner conductors.
 12. Thesmartphone case of claim 11, wherein a magnetic surface is located on aninner surface of the at least one snap-in receptacle.
 13. The smartphonecase of claim 11, wherein each swappable control module includes: aplurality of snap-in tabs, each snap-in tap being configured to engagewith a snap-in receptacle; a plurality of module conductors, each moduleconductor being configured to engage with a corner conductor; and aplurality of magnetic surfaces, each magnetic surface being configuredto engage with a corresponding magnetic surface of a corner connector.14. A smartphone case for holding and protecting a smartphone, thesmartphone case also having features for controlling a video game, thesmartphone case comprising: a case body, the case body having: a caseback: a case side wall that extends circumferentially around the caseback so as to form two long sides, two short sides, and four corners,the case side wall also configured to extend above and below smartphonewhen the smartphone is held by the case, thereby forming a front rimthat extends above the smartphone and circumferentially around the case,and forming a back rim that extends below the case back andcircumferentially around the case back; and a pair of corner connectorsincluding a first corner connector and a second corner connector, eachof said first and second corner connector configured to connect with aswappable control module; and a pair of swappable control modules, eachswappable control module configured to connect with a corner connectorof the pair of corner connectors, the swappable control modulesconfigured to provide input control information to one or moreapplications running on the smartphone when the smartphone is held bythe case; wherein the case back includes at least one recess for storinga swappable control module while not in use.
 15. A smartphone case forholding and protecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also havingfeatures for controlling a video game, the smartphone case comprising: acase body, the case body having: a case back; and a case side wall thatextends circumferentially around the case back so as to form two longsides, two short sides, and four corners, the case side wall alsoconfigured to extend above and below a smartphone when the smartphone isheld by the case, thereby forming a front rim that extends above thesmartphone and circumferentially around the case, and forming a back rimthat extends below the smartphone and circumferentially around the caseback, and a pair of corner connectors including a first corner connectorand a second corner connector, each of said first and second cornerconnector configured to connect with a swappable control module; eachcorner connector including at least one snap-in receptacle, a pluralityof corner conductors, and at least one magnetic surface; wherein thecase back includes at least one recess for storing a swappable controlmodule while not in use.
 16. The smartphone case of claim 15, furtherincluding a plurality of swappable control modules, each swappablecontrol module including: a plurality of snap-in tabs, each snap-in tapbeing configured to engage with a snap-in receptacle; a plurality ofmodule conductors, each module conductor being configured to engage witha corner conductor; and a plurality of magnetic surfaces, each magneticsurface being configured to engage with a corresponding magnetic surfaceof a corner connector.
 17. A smartphone case for holding and protectinga smartphone, the smartphone case also having features for controlling avideo game, the smartphone case comprising: a case body, the case bodyhaving: a case back; and a case side wall that extends circumferentiallyaround the case back so as to form two long sides, two short sides, andfour corners, the case side wall also configured to extend above andbelow a smartphone when the smartphone is held by the case, therebyforming a front rim that extends above the smartphone andcircumferentially around the case, and forming a back rim that extendsbelow the smartphone and circumferentially around the case back, and apair of corner connectors including a first corner connector and asecond corner connector each of said first and second corner connectorconfigured to connect with a swappable control module; each cornerconnector including at least one snap-in receptacle, a plurality ofcorner conductors, and at least one magnetic surface; wherein the caseback includes: a D-Pad; an A-button; and a B-button.